Okay, this is my first hetero fanfiction. But I just can't imagine these two with anyone but each other. When I wrote this chapter, I'd been thinking of it as a thing with time travel or something but as I went, I realized I had a much MUCH better idea. I knew I wanted so badly to do a fanfic for this book but nothing particularly good came to mind. But this, I honestly think will be pretty awesome.
This is pretty much like a continuation of "Mockingjay" only without the epilogue, this is 8 years after the rebel war has ended. Peeta and Katniss are both around 25.
Summary: Katniss and Peeta have finally had a few years of calm, only to find they have woken up in an unknown place. Soon they'll find that the Games never truly ended. Not yet. Will they ever get out and be happy? Find out! Much better then it sounds.
Not much happens in this chapter and it is rather short but I've already started the 2nd chapter. I completely promise this is going to turn out good.
Disclaimer: All characters from the Hunger Games trilogy belong to Suzanne Collins. Some characters will be of my own fabrication.
My eyes feel heavy and my head feels like it weighs a ton, when I try to move my arms, I am unable to. It only takes my muddled mind a second to realize my hands have been bound. That is when it hits me. The panic. I began squirming quickly as if that would somehow get me out of my current situation but it only causes the rope to scrape my skin raw. It is so difficult to open my eyes and even when I try I can only see blurred shapes, for a second I think I see a familiar shade of yellow.
I try to open my mouth for the first time and cry out to the shape but my voice comes out as just a scratchy gasp as the name I try so hard to call forms on my lips. I try a few more times but every time it fails. This must be a bad dream... one of those dreams where I try to call a loved ones' name but nothing comes out. I have those dreams often.
Those dreams normally star Prim, just before the bombs explode. I try so hard to warn her, tell her to run, only to wake up screaming as the bombs go off and body parts go flying. Peeta would always come up the stairs to our bedroom then, apologizing for not being there before I went to sleep. I never blamed him for my dreams, he was the only protection I have from the dreams I so want to run from, but I never tell him its not his fault. I just close my eyes while he holds me and I fall in a much more restful sleep.
But this isn't a dream. I won't scream and Peeta won't come to my rescue. I know it deep inside of me but the wish that this whole thing isn't real is so powerful that I just stop moving and urge myself awake. The nightmare doesn't end though.
My heart jumps when I finally hear the sound of foot steps walking down a hallway, the steps sounding so menacing as they echo off the walls. I know those feet are coming towards me and it turns my veins to ice and for a moment I think I've stopped breathing.
The sound of a key entering a lock and the door which seems to be only a few feet away opens and then the door closing. I hadn't realized until just now that someone else had been in the room, watching me. Had my senses really been dulled so much?
The guard that had been sitting by the door stood to meet whom ever came in "Sir!" the man said in a way that only a soldier could.
"how is our little... guest?" the newest occupant asked with such amusement you'd think this was some big joke, but the iciness of the man's voice told me otherwise. But there was something else too. Something that made my breathing come out in short quick pants and in the back of my mind I'm worried I'll hyperventilate.
I want so badly to scream. It isn't the same voice that I remember. There is no way that it is because the owner of that voice is dead. But just the similarity was enough to throw me mind into a full stop and I'm scared. Terrified actually.
The voice chuckles "Seems she has awoken" it says, I can hear the shoes that could only be payed for by someone who lived in the Capitol before the take over had occurred. I can feel the closeness of the strangers body although I wasn't being touched, I can hear the breath just on my face and I think I'm going to retch. Roses... the familiarly sickening sent of roses.
I immediately begin to convulse wildly and I think my wrists have begun to bleed from the shear force. "Give another shot" the voice said as it stood up right, no longer crouched in front of me.
I feel the terrifying presence leave as a new one comes before me. My arm is grabbed roughly to keep me still as I continued to thrash about. I feel the small sting of a needle as it is forced into my vein.
The world goes black and dreamless. Empty in a way that only drugs can cause.
It feels like only seconds before I wake up once more, but when I feel how stiff my body is, I know it has to have been at least a few hours. My eyes are still heavy but I am able to open them almost all the way.
My vision blurs like it had before but my eyes clear after a few moments and I am able to take in my situation fully.
The whole room appears to be made of concrete and have only 2 exits. A door that can only be unlocked with a key and a window with a dark red curtain over it. Only a sliver of what lies behind the curtain shows a pure white hallway that is lit with florescent lights.
My legs and hands have been bound, laying on my side on the cold concrete floor. I note the fact that I was laying in a puddle of what must've been my own filth. It took a lot of concentration not to throw up as well.
My eyes roll, trying to take in all of my surroundings, this causes my head to throb and an involuntary groan to escape my lips. My guard did not move.
I was finally able to take in the soldier's appearance. The man was pretty well built, his head shaved, and his uniform was what I expected the moment I heard that stranger's voice. A peacekeeper...
I hadn't seen a peacekeeper since the rebellion ended. The sight of the uniform brought back horrible memories. Memories of Darius, the peacekeeper who's tongue had been cut out because of me. Gale's whipping. Those Muttations who were so bent on getting me that they ate the heads off of the peacekeepers who had been in pursuit of me.
It took all of my will power not to go into a fit of trembles. The soldier made no move to sedate me again, apparently he didn't have the clearance for that and it was obvious I wasn't going anywhere.
My eyes moved around the rest of the room and I gasped, I knew I hadn't imagined the unconscious boy who was laying only 4 feet away from me on the opposite side of the room.
His blonde hair dirtied from lack of washing and his face has dried blood and dirt on it, but I knew it was him. When I saw the odd angle his nose is now in, I know that is where the blood must've come from.
I just can't seem to remember what happened or how I got here, the sight of the broken nose does trigger a quick memory of Peeta trying to protect me only to be hit in the face with the butt of a Peacekeepers gun. I wince lightly from the memory, the sound of the bone cracking echoing in my mind.
I train my gray eyes on the Peacekeeper and realize he doesn't plan to do anything with me, he knows that even if I were able to get out of my binds, it wouldn't take much to take me down.
I take a deep breathe and begin pushing myself towards the unconscious body, every little shimmy, push, and squirm causes a cry of pain to rise in my throat. The floor smacking roughly against my stiff body, ribs and arms throbbing from the effort.
Every centimeter I get closer, it looks as if Peeta's limp body is getting further and further away. Sweat begins to form under my clothes which I've just realized are a pair of white sweat pants and a white t-shirt which matches my blonde companion. Sweat which has formed on my forehead begins to slide into my eyes, pulling dirt into them and making them burn and water.
I stopped and panted heavily, already feeling weak and dehydrated, I can hear my stomach growling loudly and I know that I've been neglected.
I close my eyes, trying to keep the harmful body fluids from getting into my stinging eyes. I repeatedly tell myself that it would just take a little more and I'd finally reach my goal but this was easier said then done.
I opened my eyes once again and realized after all my work, I wasn't much closer. That was when I decided not to look up until I felt the blonde's body next to mine.
My fight to get just a few feet lasted for 45 minutes. When I finally bumped my head into the blonde's back and felt the familiar warmth, that small touch made me want to break down and cry, just knowing that my mind hadn't just imagined him. I now know for sure I'm not alone.
I squirmed forward a few more inches and buried my face in the back of Peeta's shirt, taking in the warmth. It was so reassuring to know he was alive and beside me, I wished so badly for my hands to be unbound so that I could hold him but that probably wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
I nudged my face against the boy's back, causing Peeta to groan softly. I perked up and tried to squirm up further so that I could at least be at eye level with his deep blue eyes but it proved difficult. "P...Pe.. tah..." I gasped out but it was barely above a whisper.
He squirmed and groaned once again but appeared to be in the same state I had been the first time I'd woken up. I used all my strength to lift my head and bit down roughly on the blonde's side, which was the only skin I could reach. Peeta gasped loudly and seemed to jolt in surprise at the pain. That one bite seemed to be just the thing to get him to fully wake up.
Peeta let out another groan "Katniss...what was the for?..." he said still half awake. By the looks of it, it was only me who had been neglected, because while Peeta's nose was still broken, his voice was clear as if he'd been given water and he seemed at least moderately nourished while I had been ignored.
I watched his face and saw the recognition and shock that crossed his face. "Katniss!" concern now filling his voice as he tried to force his body to face me.
It was much easier for him to move then it had been for me and he used all his strength to flip over so that he was on his back, but he let out a gasp of pain when he placed all of his weight on his tied up hands. His face screwed up in pain as he forced the pain away.
I used my knees to push off Peeta's body lightly so that when he flipped over again to face me, I wouldn't be crushed. We simultaneously squirmed our bodies closer to each other once we were facing one another. Peeta moved down a bit lower so that my head was leveled with the blonde's neck "Katniss... where are we?" he whispered, fear crossing his face.
"I... I think... we're in a new game..." I said hoarsely.
A look of pure horrible pain crossed his face and I watched his eyes dilate then became huge as his mind seemed to go somewhere else. I panicked, leaned forward, and kissed the skin that was closest to me, which was around his throat and chest, I was afraid this wouldn't be enough to get him back to me "d...don't go" I gasped out.
I watched Peeta's eyes come back to me, their deep blue irises filling with tears as soon as he realized what was happening. That once again, we were going to end up in a new Games.
He closed his eyes tightly and tried to suppress the tears but it only caused them to come out faster "I'm sorry Katniss..." he whispered.
It had been years since the last time the effects of the hijacking that the capitol had down as torture by changing his memories of me into something terrifying, but that last time had been so horrible that Peeta had completely shut himself out from the world. We had thought Peeta had completely controlled himself but something seemed to set him off that we couldn't quite place and the next thing I knew Peeta had a knife in his hand and was coming for me. It took Gale and Haymitch restraining him to make him drop the knife, he even had to be tied to a chair before I could finally coax him out of his fierce and hateful behavior and finally subdue.
When Peeta finally came to, shaking and terrified, Gale gave him one rough punch to the face for coming after me. It took a lot of convincing and yelling to get Gale to understand that it wasn't Peeta's fault and that I was still going to stay with him. Peeta hadn't deserved that punch... he ended up punishing himself for such a long time after that, he nearly left me and it took me breaking down for him to stay and realize I still needed him.
The fact that I was able to stop him so quickly means that he is still in control, but of course this isn't the best situation to realize that.
I sighed softly and leaned forward, placing my head under Peeta's chin and softly nuzzled my nose into the blonde's neck. He seemed to have the permanent smell of bread on his skin which I breathed in. Peeta placed his chin against my head and curled his strong body around me. I shivered lightly when I felt Peeta's metal leg touch my bare feet but it felt nice and familiar.
Peeta's body relaxed around me and even in this horrible unfamiliar place, I felt safe.
In my scratchy voice, I told him what I had heard and what was so familiar about the voice. At the mention of Snow's name, I thought I was going to lose him again but I kept him from leaving me. I had a bad feeling that something in this place was going to eventually make him snap before I could stop it.
We sat silently trying to figure out what we were going to do, I stared forward trying to ignore the putrid smell that the both of us were emitting. Peeta was staring at me, I could feel it. I was becoming self conscious. I was filthy, smelled of my own waster, and you could probably count my bones under my shirt.
I heard the guard make an involuntary gagging sound, the smell finally getting to him. He picked up a walky-talky "hey, I need you to talk to the big guy. I don't think I can stand this smell anymore..." he said into the receiver of the machine.
Even with my current state, Peeta stayed close to me, not showing any sort of disgust towards me. Only a look of concern and pain for my state of neglect. Finally he couldn't take it.
"Hey! Can you at least get her some water!" he called to the guard over his shoulder "hey! I know you can hear me!" he called knowing the guard was ignoring him. I peeked over Peeta's shoulder and caught a glimpse of the guard's glaring face. My head fell back down weakly when I saw the Peacekeeper stand with a bottle of water.
Instead of giving me the water he took a swig from the bottle, savoring it. Purposely rubbing it in my face. I didn't want to give in but I could feel my mouth becoming dry and my lips cracking.
The Peacekeeper smirked and swallowed, he held the bottle out as if to give to me, but in one swift movement, the bottle was turned over and the contents dumped out beside my head. I felt the cool clear liquid spreading beside me and touching my hair and the side of my face.
That was what broke me. Ridiculous considering all that happened. But it broke me. The last of the water in my body was spilling out from my eyes. Peeta began thrashing around, screaming in pure anger for my sake, trying to swing his bound legs at the man in white.
There was no look of amusement on our guard's face "My 8 year old daughter was in that group of kids that you rebels blew up" he growled between gritted teeth.
My eyes widened in shock, I began to think of all those kids that had been killed. All the parents who had been dealing with the pain for all these years. It had been 8 years since that incident, but to think there were parents who were still so angry... angry at me... at what I'd caused. My body began to shake with the sobs ripping through my painfully tight throat. I couldn't help wondering if with age I've become weaker. I'm only twenty-five years old but I know I would never have shown this side of me to anyone other than Peeta.
But here I was, in front of a total stranger, crying my eyes out. I wanted so badly to tell him that he wasn't alone, that my dear sweet Primrose had died in the explosion, trying to save those kids or that I'd been the one who shot and killed Coin. But I knew that wouldn't be enough. Never be enough. So I didn't speak.
Peeta continued thrashing but eventually used up his energy and finally slumped back against me, panting heavily. The anger evident on his face. A few seconds later 2 guards came in, one female and one male. They seemed really annoyed at having to deal with us. I had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen next.
The woman grabbed me roughly by the back of the shirt and pulled me up into a sitting position before dragging me towards the door, Peeta cried out after me "KATNISS!" he yelled but I heard a rough smack which echoed off the walls as the blonde exited my field of vision. I opened my parched lips, trying to call after him but my raw throat and dry mouth wouldn't allowed anything to come out. I didn't even fight it as I was dragged away. I watched the filth from my body rub off on the pure white floor and knew someone would have to wipe it up. It gave me a childish satisfaction to know that someone had to take time out of their schedule to clean up my mess.
The female Peacekeeper opened a door which slid open when she her key card through a slot. It opened up to what looked like a large shared bathroom where I guessed the Peacekeepers came to shower and wash up. I was dragged in past about 6 sinks. I was pulled into a large semi-circle that was covered in pure white tiles, metal shower heads which were evenly spaced out followed along the top of the semi-circle.
The Peacekeeper all but threw me onto the pure white tiles, I landed roughly on my side and watched her. The white uniformed woman walked over to an electronic panel and taped on a touch screen. I cried out in pain when scolding hot water erupted from the 5 shower heads beside me. I closed my eyes tightly trying to endure the pain, hoping it wasn't hot enough to leave blisters.
I could feel my clothes become heavy as they soaked up the water, I concentrated on the filth and urine that washed off of me as it went down the drain, hoping that would keep my mind off the pain.
I took in a deep breathe, closed my eyes, turned my face up towards the water, and opened my mouth. I felt the heat burn my tongue and throat but I could also feel the much needed water give my body new life.
The Peacekeeper was shocked, I knew that. But I was a survivor and I've done much worse to live.
The Peacekeeper smacked the buttons, turning off my water supply in annoyance, my hair was now stuck to my face and I could feel my wrists burning as the hot water settled on the raw wounded skin.
She once again grabbed me by the back of the shirt and pulled me towards the room I'd come from, I looked forward at the hall. I took in the details and saw that it looked as if white was in all directions. The only thing that kept me from believing it was all just white walls was the very slightly outline of nearly invisible doors and the keep slots that had been installed just next to them.
The survivor in me relentlessly told me that "we would get out of this."
We would get out of this... We would get out of this...
I honestly wanted to keep this chapter going but I felt that was a good way to end it. I already have the 2nd chapter started. Please review and favorite and cheer me on! I would really like to actually finish this story. So far, this is the first Katniss x Peeta I have seen like mine and I'd say it is a pretty good idea. I'm not normally so confident but I've never had an idea like this before! so please be sure to review :)